Can stamping machine



' Nov. 18, 1958 J. J. 'PR'oHAsK cm STAMPING MACHINE Filed June 1, 195:

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JAMES J PROHASKA IN V EN TOR A TTOR/VE Y Nov. 18, 1958J. J. PROHA-SKA 2,850,572

CAN STAMPING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES J. PRO/IASKA IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1958 J. J. PROHASKA 2,360,572

, i cm STAMPING MACHINE Filed June 1,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JAM IE5 JZPRO/ AS164 INVEN TOR.

A 7' TORNE Y United States Patent CAN STAMPING MACHINE James J.Prohaska, La Grange, Ill., assignor to Swift & Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application June 1, 1953, Serial No. 358,815

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-41) This invention in general relates to a means forstamping a symbol or legend on a container. More specifically thisinvention provides a machine having a mandrel for holding a hollowcontainer and associated stamping members for applying an indicia to thecontainer held on the mandrel.

One specific use for this machine is the printing of a legend of thecontents to be enclosed in the container. It has generally been thepractice to purchase lithographed cans with, among the other printedmatter and designs of the particular container, the ingredients to beplaced in the container printed thereon. This ingredient phrase,particularly in the food industry, is subject to variation as marketconditions change, and the practice of purchasing the cans with thephrase already lithographed on them necessitates carrying large andvaried inventories which may prove useless should an ingredient changebe necessary.

The disclosed invention provides a machine for stamping this variablephrase on lithographed containers having a portion left blank for suchlegend.

Obviously, the disclosed stamping machine could be used for stampingother types of legends or symbols on a container. The machine may evenbe used for printing all of the markings on a blank container when suchmarkings are not too complicated in color, design, etc., to be handledby the machine or a sequence of printings by the machine.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a machine forstamping any desired mark on a container which is positioned on themachine in the desired relationship to the stamping members.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mandrel forholding the container in proper relationship to the stamping member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mandrelinterconnected with the stamp-operating mechanism so that the mandrel isexpanded to rigidly support the container by the operation of thestamp-operating mechanism.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a novel mounting ofthe stamping members on the operating mechanism to control the stampingpressure of said stamping members on the container.

Additional objects not set forth herein will be apparent to one skilledin the art from the following detailed description:

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of a stamping machine, con structed in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of this invention, with portions brokenaway for greater clarity of the structure.

Fig. 2 is a partially-sectioned view of the machine members per se takenon line 44 of Fig. l. i t

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modification of the machine shown in Figs.l4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a container for which the disclosedmachine was constructed and illustrates the portions of the container onwhich the printed matter is placed.

Generally the present invention comprises a stamping machine having anexpansible mandrel for rigidly holding a hollow container having atleast one open end. Selfinking stamping members are mounted adjacent tothe mandrel, and the printing slugs of said members are moved intocontact with a container on the mandrel by a mechanical linkage operatedby a foot treadle. The mandrel has a recess in one jaw in which ismounted a spring-supported plate which may be adjusted to compensate forminor variations in can size.

In a preferred embodiment the actuating linkages of the self-linkingstamping members are resilientlymounted on the mechanical linkage tocontrol the pressure exerted by the printing slug on the container bytaking up any excess pressure due to overtravel of the printing slug.Also, the mandrel has means associated with the mechanical linkage forexpanding said mandrel at the same time the printing slug is actuatedinto contact with the container by said mechanical linkage. The mandrelmay also be expanded by a cam member actuated by the operator by meansof a crank as shown in a second embodiment. Also, if desired, theactuating linkage of the self-inking stamping members may be rigidlyattached to the mechanical linkage where there is little variance in thesize of the containers and hence little danger of overtravel and excesspressure by the printing slugs.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the stamping machine comprises a base memberor plate 10 having open, four-sided brackets 11 and 12 secured to oneside thereof and a pair of angle bracket 13 extending from the otherside thereof. The base plate 10 may be rigidly mounted on any suitablesupport and is provided with slots 14 and an aperture 15 through whichextend the linkage hereinafter described. The brackets 11 and 12 areheld on the base plate 10 by screws 16 threaded'in the base plate andextending through slots 17 in said brackets. The slots 17 permit thebrackets and printing members mounted on said brackets to be moved foradjustment of the point at which the stamping member contacts thecontainer.

Angle members 18 are secured to the inner surface of the side portionsof the brackets 11 and 12. Transverse channel members 19 extend betweenopposite angle members 18 and are fastened to said angle members.

The linkage for actuating the stamping members of this machine comprisesa rod 20 connectedat one end to a conventional foot treadle (not shown)and pivotallyconnected at 21 to linkage arm 22 which extends through thelower slot 14. The linkage arm 22 is in turn pivotally mounted on ashaft 23 mounted on the bracket 11.

Pivotally-connected to the linkage arm :22 at a point between the pivots21 and 23 is a turnbuckle 26 comprising socket members 25 and 27threadedly connected to an intermediate rod for a purpose hereinafterdescribed. The turnbuckle is in turn pivotally-connected at 28 tolinkage arm 29. The linkage arm 29 is rotatably-mounted at anintermediate point on a shaft 30 mounted between the brackets 13. Arm 29is also pivotally-connected at 31 to a turnbuckle 33 comprising socketmembers 32 and 34 threaded to an intermediate rod like thefirst-mentioned turnbuckle. The length of this turnbuckle is likewiseadjustable for reasons later described. This turnbuckle is in turnpivotally connected at 35 to linkage arm 36 which extends through theupper slot 14. The linkage arm 36 is rotatably-mounted at anintermediate point on shaft 37, which is mounted'on the bracket 12.

The linkage arms 22 and 36 are bifurcated at one end, thus providingarms 22 and 36', respectively, on each side of the stamping members. Thebifurcated arms 22' and 36 are slotted at their ends at 38. Rods 39extend through said slots to provide a sliding connection and areattached to the pressure plates 40, which have central apertures 40'through which extend the stamping members later described.

A spring (not shown) is conveniently attached to the foot treadle tourge the rod 20 upwardly and hence the stamping members away from themandrel. However, the spring may be attached to the linkage at any pointbetween the treadle and stamping members to urge said stamping membersoutwardly.

Each of the pressure brackets 41 of a self-inking stamping member ismounted on a pressure plate 49 by two spacer pins 42 attached to saidpressure bracket. The spacer pins 42 are loosely mounted in apertures inthe perssure plate. Heads 43 of the pins are of larger diameter thansaid apertures and abut the surface of the pres sure plate. Springs 44are mounted around the spacer pins 42 and urge the head 43 of the pins42 into contact with pressure plates 40. The loosely mounted pins 42 andsprings 44 provide a resilient mounting of the actuating mechanism ofthe printing members for a purpose later described.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the self-inking stamping member, inaddition to the pressure bracket 41, comprises a rod 45 slidably mountedin a slot 41' in each of the arms of the pressure bracket 41. Pivotmembers 46 at each end of the stamping member are attached to the rod45. Secured to and extending between said pivot members is a base member47 having a channel member 48 secured thereon in which is mounted arubber printing slug 49. Side members 50 at each end of the self-inkingstamping member are connected by a transverse channel member 51 in whichis mounted an inking pad 52. A fixed rod 53 extends between the sidemembers 50 and is also positioned in the slot of the pivot member 46.The side members 50 have therein an arcuate slot 54 through whichextends the rod 45 so that the pressure communicated through the linkageto the pressure bracket 41 will cause the rod 45 to travel down thearcuate slot 54 and pivot the rubber slug into printing position on thecontainer. R-ods 57 are secured to the pressure bracket 41 and travel inguide slots 58 in the side members 50. The handle 55 is of no specialuse in the instant machine, but it has been found desirable to retain itsince one end of the spring in the commercially available stamps ismounted in the handle, and the tubular housing 56 for the spring slidesinto such handle when the pressure bracket 41 is pushed downwardly topivot the stamping mechanism. The spring urges the stamping mechanism tothe position shown in Fig. 4 by urging the pressure bracket 41 away fromthe channel member 51 when the pressure on the bracket 41 is released.

The self-inking stamping members are mounted in the brackets 11 and 12by attachment of the transverse channel 51 of the stamping member to thechannels 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. V

The self-inking stamp herein shown is one of several commerciallyavailable types. The structure of the stamp per se forms no part of thepresent invention. Other types of stamps, including dies for pressingthe indicia into the metal, may be employed if desired. A springmounting of said other types similar to the mounting of the pressurebrackets 41 may be expedient for controlling the pressure exerted on thecontainer.

The container is held adjacent the printing members by a mandrelpositioned therebetween. The mandrel, illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3,has a lower jaw 60 fixed to the base plate 10. An upper jaw 61 is hingedto the lower jaw at 62 by means of hinge plates 63 secured to the upperjaw. The upper jaw 61 is provided with a recess 64 in which is mounted apressure plate 65. Four screws 66 limit the outward extension of saidpressure plate 65. Springs 68 are mounted in recesses 69 around eachscrew and urge the pressure plate 65 outwardly against the countersunkscrew heads. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the screws 66 with springs 68are offset on opposite sides of the center of the pressure plate toprovide a better over-all support of the pressure plate. Additionalscrews with springs 68 thereabout may be employed if desired. The lowerjaw has recesses 75 on opposite sides thereof which serve as bearingsurfaces for plates 76 mounted on opposite sides of the upper jaw. Theseplates assist in keeping the upper and lower jaws aligned.

A plate 70 is attached to pressure plate 65 and has thereon a camfollower 71. Pivotally-mounted on the shaft 30 is a plate 72 having camsurface 73. The plate 72 is secured to the linkage 29 by means of ascrew 74 so that when the linkage for the stamping device is actuated,the cam plate 72 will rotate on the shaft 30 and cause the cam surface73 through the cam follower 71 to raise the upper jaw and hold thecontainer securely thereon.

As shown in Fig. 2, the printing members are oifset to print the desiredlegend on opposite sides and near the edges of the container asillustrated by the zones 132 in Fig. 6. The position of these stampingdevices obviously may be varied according to the position on thecontainer at which the printed matter is desired to be placed. Also,while the disclosed invention shows two opposed stamping members, it isnot intended that the invention be limited to this particulararrangement. It is contemplated that the present invention may be usedhaving only one stamp or with the stamping members mounted in adilferent relationship to each other. Further, the brackets 11 and 12with printing members mounted therein are shown in Fig. 2 at an angle tothe perpendicular axis of the mandrel in order to print on the angularsurface of the container shown mounted on the mandrel. The angularmounting of the brackets and printing devices may obviously be variedaccording to the surface of the container where it is desired to stamp acontainer of different configuration.

The exterior surface of the mandrel and the pressure plate may be shapedto conform to the surface of any other containers, e. g., a cylindricalcontainer, if it is desired to print on such containers.

In operation of the machine shown in Figs. 1-4, the operator places acontainer over the mandrel jaws 60 and 61 until it abuts the base plate10. He then depresses the foot treadle which causes the pressurebrackets 41 of the printing members, through the linkages described, topivot the printing slugs 49 into contact with the opposite sides of thecontainer surface. At the same time the plate 72 with cam surface 73pivots about the axis 30, thus raising upper jaw 61 with pressure plate65 into holding contact with the inner surface of the can. Uponreleasing the foot treadle the spring attached to the foot treadlecauses the linkage to move the printing members away from the containerand at the same time the mandrel is contracted by the rotation of theraised portion of the cam surface 73 away from the follower 71.

If the mandrel jaws 60 and 61 do not tightly grip the can when the foottreadle is depressed or if they grip the can too tightly, the situationmay be corrected by changing the position of pressure plate 65 withrespect to the upper jaw 61. To increase the extent to which the mandrelopens the screws 66 are run in compressing springs 68. If the mandrel isalready opening too far, this may be decreased by running the screws 66outwardly allowing springs 68 to expand. Usually with any given run ofcans no adjustment will be necessary after an initial adjustment.However, when a new run of cans is received at a later date it may benecessary to make an initial readjustment.

The printing members are placed in prearranged position in relation tothe base plate 10 when constructing the machine so that the printing onthe container will be placed in the desired position when the can isinserted on the mandrel abutting the base plate 10. The printing membersare mounted in the brackets 11 and 12 on channels 19 in prearrangedposition so that the printing slug 49 will protrude beyond the sidemembers 50 and into contact with the container. The spring-mounting 44of the pressure bracket 41 will absorb any excess pres sure of the slugon the container should the protrusion of said slug be more than thatfor which provision has been made by the spacing of the printing membersfrom the mandrel.

The turnbuckles 26 and 33 may be shortened or lengthened to adjust thetravel of the linkage arms 22 and 36. Also, the turnbuckles 26 and 33may be used to change the relative position between the cam follower 71and cam surface 73 if it is found that the upper jaw is not in tightcontact with the inner surface of the container when the printing slugfirst contacts it. For example, by shortening the turnbuckles 26 and 33,the cam surface 73 can be positioned closer to the follower 71. In suchcase, the mandrel will be expanded more quickly when the linkage of theprinting devices is actuated.

In the modification of the stamping machine shown in Fig. 5 a gussetplate 81 is secured to the base plate 80. The gusset plate 81 has asupporting plate 82 secured thereon. Secured on the other side of thebase plate 80 is a journal plate 83 having journal 84 therein. The baseplate 80 and gusset plate 81 have aligned openings 85 which are in turnaligned with the journal 84.

A lower jaw 90 of the mandrel is rigidly secured to the supporting plate82. A movable upper jaw 91 is hinged at 96 to the fixed lower jaw 90.Shaft 92 is journaled at one end at 84 and at the other end in a journalbearing 93 attached to the supporting plate 82. A curvilinear cam 94 isfixed eccentrically to the shaft 92 and contacts a bearing surface 96 ofa pressure plate 97. A crank 95 is secured to the outer end of the shaft92 for rotating the shaft and cam. The pressure plate 97 isspring-mounted in the same manner as the pressure plate 65.

The brackets 101 and 102 are U-shaped with the base portion 103 attachedin any suitable manner to the base plate 80, which is mounted on anysuitable support (not shown). The self-inking printing members generallydesignated 104 are the same as the printing member shown in Fig. 4 andhave not been shown in detail in Fig. 5 since their structure has beendescribed previously.

Brackets 101 and 102 have narrow, inwardly-directed lips 105 spaced farenough apart to permit the printing slug to pass therebetween.Transverse angle members 106 are secured to the lips and extendtherebetween. The side members 50 of the self-inking printing membersare rigidly mounted in the brackets 101 and 102 by screws 107 whichextend through apertures 108 in the angle members 106 and are threadedin the side members 50.

The mechanism for operating the stamping members comprises a rod 110attached to a conventional foot treadle (not shown) with a spring (notshown) similar to that described with reference to the modification ofFigs. l-4. The rod 110 is pivotally-mounted on shaft 111, on which isalso pivotally-mounted linkage arms 112 and 113. The linkage arm 112 ispivotally-connected at 114 to linkage arm 115, the latter linkage armbeing rotatablymounted on shaft 116. The shaft 116 is mounted within thebracket 101 by a bracket member 117 secured to the base plate 80 by bolt118.

Linkage arm 113 is rotatably mounted on shaft 120 which is in turnmounted on bracket 121 secured to the base plate 80. Linkage arm 113 ispivotally-connected at 122 to linkage arm 123, which ispivotally-connected at 124 to linkage arm 125 rotatably-mounted on shaft126. The shaft 126 is mounted within the bracket102 on a bracket similarto the bracket 117. The linkage arms 115 and 125 have bifurcatedportions 115' and 125',

6 similar to the arms 22 and 36 shown in Figs. 1-3. The bifurcatedportions 115' and 125' are slotted at 127 to provide a slidingconnection with rods 128 connected to U-shaped pressure plates 130.

The U-shaped pressure plates 130 have a central opening 131 in the baseportion through which the handle of the stamping device extends. Saidpressure plates are rigidly secured to the pressure bracket 41 of aself-inking stamping device. The legs of the U-shaped plates 130 arespaced apart sufficiently so that they pass on either side of the member51 of the stamping device.

In operating the machine of Fig. 5, the operator inserts a containerinto abutting contact with the base plate 80 over the mandrel in itscollapsed position. By rotating the shaft 92 by means of the crank 95,the cam 94 causes the upper jaw to expand against the inner surface ofthe container. The mandrel is held in the expanded position by thefriction between cam 94 and bearing surface 96 of the pressure plate 97.Then the operator depresses the foot treadle which causes the printingslugs to swing inwardly against the surface of the containerthrough thelinkage above-described. Upon releasing the pressure on the foottreadle, the bifurcated arms and swing outwardly and release thepressure on the pressure bracket 41. The printing slugs 49 then pivot tothe position shown in Fig. 4. Then the operator rotates the cam 94 bythe crank 95, causing the mandrel to. collapse for withdrawal of thecontainer.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention ashereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed asare indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a container stamping machine, the combination which comprises:expansible means for holding a container, said expansible meanscomprising a first jaw and a second jaw, one of said jaws being movabletoward and away from the other; means to cause relative movement of saidjaws; stamping means adjacent to but normally spaced from saidexpansible means; means actuated when said jaws are moved to move saidstamping means toward and away from said expansible means; at least aportion of the surface of the movable jaw comprising a resilientlysupported plate held on said jaw by adjustable means; said means tocause relative movement of said jaws being operatively connected to saidplate whereby the expansion of said mandrel may be adjusted.

2. In a container stamping machine, the combination which comprises:expansible means for holding a container; said expansible meanscomprising a first jaw and a second jaw, means for mounting said secondjaw on said first jaw to adapt said second jaw for relative movementwith respect to said first jaw; at least a portion of the surface of oneof said jaws comprising resilientlysupported plate connected to said jawby adjustable means; means operatively connected to said plate to causerelative movement of said jaws; stamping means adjacent to but spacedfrom said expansible means; and means operated when said jaws areexpan'ded to move said stamping means toward and away from saidexpansible means to apply indicia to a container held by said mandrel.

3. A stamping machine comprising: a base member; a mandrel having onejaw fixed to said base member; a second jaw hinged at one end to saidfirst jaw, said second jaw having a recess in the outer surface; apressure plate mounted in said recess; resilient means supporting saidpressure plate; adjustable means extending through said pressure plateand threaded in the recessed jaw; means to expand said mandreloperatively connected to said pressure plate; stamping mean's adjacentto but normally spaced from said mandrel; and means mounted on said baseplate in cooperation with said means to expand said mandrel and operablewhen said mandrel is expanded to move said stamping means toward andaway from said mandrel to apply an indica to the outer surface of ahollow container held on said mandrel.

4. An expansible mandrel for use in a stamping machine which comprises:a first jaw; a second jaw; means for mounting said second jaw to adaptsaid second jaw for movement relative to said first jaw; means forcausing relative movement of said jaws; at least a portion of the outersurface of one of said jaws having a recess therein; a pressure plateresiliently supported in said recess; adjustable means limiting theoutward movement of said pressure plate; and means for causing relativemovement of said jaws being operatively connected to said pressure platewhereby the expansion ofsaid mandrel may be adjusted.

5. A mandrel adapted for use in a stamping machine comprising: a firstjaw; a second jaw hinged at one end to said first jaw; at least aportion of the outer surface of one of said jaws having a recesstherein; a pressure plate resiliently supported in said recess;adjustable means limiting the outward movement of said pressure plate;and means for causing relative movement of said jaws bein'g operativelyconnected to said pressure plate whereby the expansion of said mandrelmay be adjusted.

6. In a stamping machine, the combination which comprises: an expansiblemandrel comprising at least two jaws; said jaws being, connected by ahinge at one end thereof, one of said jaws having a recess with anadjustable resiliently mounted plate therein whereby the expansion ofsaid mandrel may be adjusted; a cam member mounted between said jaws andcontacting said plate for causing relative movement of said jaws; meansto actuate said cam member; stamping means adjacent to but normallyspaced from said man'drel; and means to move saidstamping means towardand away from said mandrel to apply an indicia to the outer surface of acontainer held on said expansiblemandrel.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 584,669Buttler June 15, 1897 680,687 Blood Aug. 20, 1901 1,025,019 Price Apr.30, 1912 2,015,086 Paynter et al Sept. 24, 1935 2,335,213 Lawrence Nov.23, 1943 2,446,798 Vergobbi Aug. 10, 1948 2,505,065 Rank Apr. 25, 19502,685,829 Taber Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 395,845 Great Britain July27, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 2,860,572 November 18, 1958 James J. Prohaska It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the-printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 2, line 37, for bracket read brackets column 3, line 19, forperssure" read pressure column '7, line 2, for "indica" read indicialine 12, after "and" insert said Signed and sealed this 7th day of April1959.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

